Box Score
NEWARK, NJ – Senior PJ Saporito and freshman Bryan Bleakley drove in two runs apiece in the seventh inning, pushing NJIT past Rider University, 5-3, Wednesday night at Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium.
Saporito, who started the game as the Highlanders first baseman, finished from the mound picking up his first career save. Saporito came in to relieve in the bottom of the eighth inning and struck out Rider's pinch hitter Mason Heney and then pitched a scoreless ninth inning, securing the win for the Highlanders.
NJIT's freshman RHP Reid Okita, the third of five pitchers, recorded his first collegiate win pitching 2.0 innings, giving up one hit and fanning five Bronc batters.
The game was scoreless until the top of the third inning, when Rider's LF Maurice Williams drove an RBI double to the center field wall, scoring DH Sean Olson who led off the inning with a double of his own.
The Broncs added another run in the fifth inning, taking a 2-0 lead when 2B Steve Galella hit an RBI single to left field scoring Williams. Williams doubled down the left field line to lead off the inning.
NJIT sophomore CF James D'Aloia got the Highlanders going in the seventh inning, leading off with a single to centerfield. Freshman RF Jeffrey Pizzi drew a walk and LF Craig Binkiewicz reached on a fielder's choice loading the bases for 2B Matt Tomczyk. Tomczyk drew the second walk of the inning, scoring D'Aloia for the Highlanders' first run.
Saporito stepped up with bases loaded and lined a single to center, scoring Tomczyk and Binkiewicz as NJIT took a 3-2 lead. The Highlanders got insurance runs from C Bleakely when he singled down the right field line to score Berner and Saporito.
NJIT got seven hits from five different players, led by Berner and D'Aloia, who each rapped out a pair of hits. The other Highlander hits came from Saporito, Bleakley and Pizzi.
The losing pitcher for Rider was junior Chris Brown (2-1), the second of four pitchers for the Broncs. He allowed one hit and four runs in two innings.
Three Broncs got two hits apiece -- Olson (2-for-4) with a double in the eighth; Williams (2-for-5, on two doubles) and Galella (2-for-3), who had a triple in the seventh.
NJIT's next scheduled action is a doubleheader set for Saturday at 12 pm against Hartford and a single game on Sunday starting at 1 pm.
